Gift Ideas that Make a House a Green Home

Most home-related gifts are pretty practical. But many times sensible gifts are welcome – and necessary. As much as I like a splurge on something I wouldn’t normally buy, I gravitate toward gifts that I know I need and will use all year long.

Here are some practical yet environmentally friendly home-related gift ideas:

• Glass storage containers are always welcome in my home. It took my family quite a while to make the transition from plastic to glass, mainly because of the extra expense. Once we got them for Christmas last year, I wasn’t sure how we lived without them. I especially appreciate the glass containers that come with BPA-free plastic lids.

• A programmable thermostat is definitely the most boring gift I’ll suggest in this year’s gift guides. But it’s such a great investment. Not only will the thermostat help conserve energy by maintaining a cooler temperature when you’re not at home, but it also will help save money on heating bills.

• Green cleaning supplies can be a welcome gift to someone trying to make healthier lifestyle choices. Put baking soda, vinegar, Borax and castile soap in a handy bucket, along with some reusable towels, essential oils to add fragrance, and recipes for homemade cleaning products. You’ll give a practical, affordable, and creative gift. (Husbands, don’t give this particular gift to your wife … unless she asks for it.)

• Beeswax candles are environmentally friendly gifts in two senses. First, once they burn you don’t have more clutter around your house. Secondly, beeswax doesn’t contain a bunch of toxins like other candles.

• While not completely green, making your own photo books on sites like Shutterfly helps to cut down on the storage and expense of printed photos. (Shutterfly offers a new customer offer: Get 50 free prints when you sign up for Shutterfly.com!) I’ve made about ten books in the past year and love to give them as special gifts. (I have so much fun documenting each year of Big Brother and Little Sister’s lives in Shutterfly’s photo books … and my children have a blast looking at the finished products.)

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